Vancouver drug policy advocates face trafficking related charges: police

Two founders of aVancouverdrug user advocacy group that distributed what they said were safe doses of heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamines to prevent overdoses have been charged with trafficking related offences as a result of police raids last year.

Vancouverpolice said in a statement Friday that members of the Drug User Liberation Front (DULF) had spoken publicly about trafficking the substances.

Police said charges of possession for the purposes of trafficking were approved on May 31 against 28-year-old Jeremy Kalicum and 33-year-old Eris Nyx, who are DULF's co-founders.

The police statement said Kalicum and Nyx each face three charges and are scheduled to appear incourt on July 2.

Police executed search warrants on DULF's Downtown Eastside offices last October, as well as two homes linked to the investigation.

At the time, the group's website said its "fulfilment centre" allowed drug users to receive up to 14 grams of cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine per week, with the substances tested for safety before sale "at cost."

At an August news conference, Nyx said the group had distributed 201 doses in its first month of operation, and would continue distribution despite failing to secure a legal exemption.

The group had requested the same mechanism that allows supervised safe consumption sites to legally operate inVancouverand forB.C. to pilot the decriminalization of small amounts of some drugs. Health Canada denied its application in 2022, andDULFhas since asked for a judicial review of thedecision in federal court.

Tim Dickson and Stephanie Dickson, legal counsels for DULF, said in a joint statement to CBC News that their clients are disappointed that the charges were approved.

"We are surprised the Crown made this decision before the Federal Court decides whether Health Canada's denial of an exemption for the compassion club was constitutional," the lawyerssaid.

"If the Crown is serious about pursuing these charges, our clients will challenge the constitutionality of prohibiting a life-saving safer supply program in light of this devastating toxic drug crisis."

WATCH | Police say anyone who violates criminal code should expect to facecharges:

Arrests made after police raid Drug User Liberation Front's office

12 months ago

Duration 26:49

The Vancouver Police Department is investigating the activist group which has admitted to distributing illegal drugs tested for safety and made two arrests. B.C. United MLA Elenore Sturko, DULF co-founder Garth Mullins, and Vancouver ABC Coun. Brian Montague speak to Gloria Macarenko about the arrests.

VancouverCoastal Health's website says the Drug User Liberation Front Society received $200,000 of public funding in 2021-2022.

Solicitor General Mike Farnworth said the contract granted to DULF was for "drug testing," not to buy drugs, and when the government found out it had been doing so, the contract was cancelled.

Earlier this year, Nyx and Kalicum were among the authors of a research paper that looked at 47 people who used the unsanctioned compassion club.

The paper, published in the International Journal of Drug Policy, concluded participation in DULF's program was associated with a reduction in non-fatal overdoses, as well as overdoses involving the administration of naloxone.

Hundreds of people took part in a protest calling for a safe supply of illicit drugs after the arrests of Nyx and Kalicum, arguing that DULF was saving peoples' lives.

DULF co-founder Garth Mullins told CBC Newsthat DULF's actions were necessary to save lives amid the toxic drug crisis.

"Eris and Jeremy are brave as hell," he said.

"It's really a shame for the people who've made the decision that their bravery, their courage, and their love for the community has to be rewarded with something that could threaten their liberty like this."

Mullins added that drug policy advocates and supporters will "turn out in numbers" for Nyx and Kalicum's court appearance if the co-founders and their legal team want that support.

"Civil disobedience has a long history," he said. "When you face unjust laws, sometimes you have no choice but to break them."

More than 14,500 people inBritishColumbiahave died from drug overdoses since a public health emergency was declared eight years ago.

Last year, a panel convened byB.C.'s chief coroner, Lisa Lapointe,recommended the establishment of non-prescription safe supply programs to reduce deaths, but the idea was swiftly rejected by the province.

At the time of last year's raids the Vancouver Police Department said it supported progressive drug policies and believed harm-reduction strategies reduced the number of people killed by toxic drugs, but organizations had to follow the law.